Measure Distance

Instructions for use

Measure Distance can be used to calculate the distance from a point to a point, line, or face. It calculates the distance from a point, line, or face to the calculated point within the specified query range. The Calculate Result is saved in a new attribute table. The fields include: ID of the source data point, neighboring Feature ID (point, line, or face feature), And the value of the distance between them.

Application scenario

The Measure Distance feature looks at the proximity relationship between two sets of things. For example, if you need to compare the distances between several types of business sites (such as movie theaters, fast-food restaurants, engineering firms, or hardware stores) and the location of community problems (littering, broken windows, graffiti), you can limit your search to one kilometer to find relationships. The distance between the enterprise and the community problem is then calculated and stored in the attribute table, and the result is used to arrange public garbage cans or patrol police.

Measure Distance also finds all wells and distances from contaminated wells within the Specify Range.

Function entrance

  • On the Spatial Analysis tab-> Vector Analysis-> Proximity Analysis-> Measure Distance
  • Toolbox-> Vector Analysis Tools-> Proximity Analysis-> Measure Distance; (iDesktopX)

Parameter Description

  • Source data:
    • Datasource: Select the Datasource where the Point Dataset for Measure Distance is located.
    • Dataset: Select Point Dataset or Network Dataset as the starting point in Measure Distance. If Network Dataset is selected, the data involved in the calculation is Node Data.
    • Filter Expression: The participating objects can be filtered through the Filter Expression, so that the point objects that meet the conditions can participate in the calculation. Refer to the SQL Statement Query .
  • Proximity Data：
    • Datasource: Select the Datasource where the Proximity Data participating in the Measure Distance is located.
    • Dataset: Select the Proximity Data participating in the Measure Distance. You can select a point, line, surface, or Network Dataset as the end point in the Measure Distance.
    • Filter Expression: You can use Filter Expression to filter the participating objects, so that the objects that meet the conditions can participate in the calculation. Refer to the SQL Statement Query .
  • Calculation method: Click the Drop-down Button on the right side of the combo box to select the calculation method of Measure Distance, including Closest Distance and Distance In Range.
    • Closest Distance: starts from the point object in the Source Dataset, calculates the distance between the neighboring object and the source object within the query range according to the set query range, and records one or more Object IDs and distance values nearest to the object.

      If the calculation method is "Closest Distance" ", select the check box of" Min Distance "or" Max Distance "in the" Query Range Settings ". Sets the minimum or Max Distance value for Measure Distance, in units consistent with Dataset units. After the maximum and minimum distances are set, only the adjacent objects whose distance from the Source Dataset point object is greater than minimum distance and less than Max Distance (including) participate in the calculation.

    • Distance In Range: starts from each point object in the Source Dataset, calculates the distance between each adjacent object and the source object, and returns the All ObjectsID and distance value within the maximum and minimum range according to the set query range. After selecting the "Distance In Range" calculation method, you need to set the minimum and Max Distance values with the same unit as the Dataset unit.

      • Note:

        The distance from a
      • point to a line object is the minimum distance from the calculated point to the entire line object, that is, the Min Distance between a point found on the line and the calculated point. Similarly, the distance from a point to a face object is the minimum distance from the calculated point to the entire boundary of the face object, as shown in the following figure:
        • The
      • Source Dataset must have the same coordinate system as the Proximity Dataset.
        • When
      • calculating the distance between two objects, the distance is 0 in the case of inclusion or (partial) overlap. For example, if a point object is on a line object, the distance between them is 0.

  • Set the Result Dataset save name and the Datasource where it is saved:
    • Datasource: Select the Datasource where the Result Dataset is to be saved.
    • Dataset: Enter the generated Resulting dataset name. If the entered Dataset Name already exists, you will be prompted with the Invalid dataset name and need to re-enter it.
  • After setting the above parameters, click the "Run" button to execute the Measure Distance operation. The following figure shows the Result of calculating the Closest Distance:
    • Figure: Measure Distance Result

    Related topics

    Measure Distance Principle

    Measure Distance Application Example